Key case



H. P. GLASS KEY CASE Feb. 6, 1951 Filed June 14, 1948 INVENTOR. HENRY PGLA 55.

PA Tf/VT 490v 7" Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEYCASE Henry P. Glass, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 14, 1948, Serial No. 32,972

The present invention relates to key cases of the type which accommodatea plurality of keys in a manner that they can be rapidly withdrawn fromthe case for use and rapidly moved back into the case by a singlesliding motion around a pivot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key case which isinexpensive to produce, which is compact and requiresonly a minimum ofspace and parts, which is attractive in appearance and light in weight,and which permits the insertion and removal of keys rapidly whileretaining them safely. In conjunction with the latter object it is afurther and major object of the invention to provide an extremely simpleand nevertheless secure retaining means.

The key case according to the invention comprises, in combination, aplurality of flat plates connected in spaced relation with their flatsur-' faces substantially parallel to each other, and key retainingmeans disposed adjacent one or more of the edges of said plates.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood by reference to the followin detailed explanations and theaccompanyin drawings which show different embodiments of the principlesunderlying the invention. In these drawings, where like numbers refer tolike parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1,showing the manner in which the plates are stacked, connected andspaced;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a key case illustrating anotheradvantageous embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the key case shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the key case according to Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is still another embodiment of the invention wherein the platesare connected by a single connecting means such as a rivet or a screw,or by a small, stron spring, if desired, and

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 6 taken along the line VII-VIIand illustrating also an alternate form of key retaining means.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a key case is shown here which comprisesfour plates. It is, of course, understood that a smaller or largernumber of plates can be arranged to constitute such a key case. Thereare three spaces between 1 Claim. (Cl. 70-456) the plates to accommodatealtogether six keys which are secured between the plates by means of theprojections 3 which fit into the ring holes in the keys and which arepressed out of the plate metal as the plates are out by means of dies.The plates can, of course, be made in any other convenient mannerwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The plates have a conformation which makes it possible to cover thelargest portion of the keys when retracted into the case by moving themaround the pivots constituted by the projection 3, leaving small edgesof the keys uncovered so that they can be conveniently withdrawn. Theplates may, of course, be of different conformation, but the embodimentshown provides a Very' desirable form, inasmuch as it makes available alarge smooth surface which, on the outer plates, can be utilized as aname plate or the like. Moreover, it is possible with a key case made ofplates thus formed to exert a certain amount of leverage on a keyinserted in a key hole. The conformation illustrated is similar to anoblique I thus providing surface areas which present substantiallyoppositely shaped planes on the two sides of a dot and dash line a--b(Fig. l) drawn through the center, and providing space and retainingmeans for two keys between any two plates of the device.

The plates l are connected by rivets 2 around which are placed spacers 4such as plain metal washers or plastic washers of difierent colors.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 employs, ingeneral, the same principle as the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and2. The key case shown here is made to accommodate only one key in thespaces between each pair of plates. The spacing distance is determinedby the connecting means 2a and the key retaining means are formed byprojections 3 punched out of the plates alternately in oppositedirections, with indentations in back thereof to permit the plates tomove slightly towards adjacent plates when keys are inserted in orwithdrawn from the case.

The entire case can be conveniently made by first stamping a blank outof strong material such as stainless steel or chromium steel plate whichhas a sufficient amount of resiliency to permit the plates to moveslightly. This blank can be made with as many plates and connectingstrips as desired. It is then bent in. the manner shown along the narrowstrips 2a which connect the plates as more clearly indicated in Fig. 5.The projections 3 which form the key retaining means now extend throughthe spaces between the plates.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is similarto that according to Figs. 1 and 2, the main differences being that onlyone connecting and stopping means is provided and that balls of a hardmaterial are disposed in bores 6 for retaining the keys. The connectingand stopping means is in the form of a square rivet 4 to prevent theplates from fanning out with respect to one another.

In the embodiments according to Figs. 2 and 6 it is possible to have theholes for the connecting means extruded, which makes it possible toeliminate the spacers between the plates, inasmuch as the extrudedportions around the connecting means will determine the distance betweenthe plates.

While I have clearly illustrated and explained the most desirable formsof my invention, I do notwEh to be limited thereto but what I desire to.protect by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A key case for retractably accommodating a plurality of flat keyscomprising, in combination, a plurality of flatv plates disposedparallel to each other, connecting means for said plates comprising tworivets disposed transversely of and through said plates, spacing meanscom-- 4' prising washers disposed intermediate said plates and aroundsaid connecting means, and key retaining means in the form of smallprojections on said plates and having cavities in back thereof andextending adjacent opposite edges of each of said plates except one andin axial alignment intermediate said plates, said connecting means beingoppositely disposed ad.- jacent the same edges as said key retainingmeans, thereby limiting the outward movement of keys pivoted on adjacentretaining means and limiting the inward movement of keys pivotedadjacent the opposite edge.

HENRY P. GLASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

